Great Leighs future is on hold as administrators seek licence

The races on the last fixture at Great Leighs before their latest temporary licence ran out last Thursday were all named after birds and today the future of the Essex track is very much up in the air.

As reported in Friday's Standard Sport, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) refused to grant a new licence to Britain's newest racecourse and Deloitte have since been appointed as administrators for the track.

Deloitte are likely to request a new temporary licence sometime this week to allow Great Leighs to race on 29 January but Will Lambe, the BHA spokesman, is not expecting contact from the administrators today but will issue an update on proceedings.

He said: "The most important thing now is the licence application. My understanding is there is no meeting [with Deloitte] scheduled but it will be discussed."

Speculation is growing about the possible identity of any new buyer of the £30million course, but the economic climate plus the many aspects of Great Leighs that need addressing will hardly attract interest.

My first visit came in September and driving towards the course with the floodlights ablaze it did give the impression that an exciting evening lay ahead. The temporary grandstand in the middle of the course looked unique and the weighing room and paddock were top-class facilities. The bars were well-staffed and you could alternate between a champagne bar and a more punter-friendly hall with banks of screens and numerous betting facilities.